Costa Rica star to join Real Madrid

Costa Rica hero Keylor Navas is closing in on a move to Real Madrid, according to the Metro.

Levante ‘keeper Navas was one of Costa Rica’s star players during their highly successful World Cup campaign, as they surprised everybody to not only top Group D ahead of Uruguay, Italy and England, but reach the quarter-finals, only to lose to Holland.

His performances had led to reports linking him with a move to the Premier League, but it will be Real Madrid who look set to land the 27-year-old, who saved 91.3% of shots he faced in Brazil, the highest proportion of any goalkeeper to play at least two games. Navas was nominated for the Golden Glove, but was understandably beaten by Manuel Neuer.

Diego Lopez is likely to leave the Bernabeu this summer, despite starting all of Real’s La Liga fixtures last season. The Spaniard is being lined up by Napoli and Monaco, and will make way for Navas to join Iker Casillas. Carlo Ancelotti looks set to keep Casillas, despite the Spaniard making an error in the Champions League final that almost cost Madrid La Decima, and despite the ‘keeper’s error against Holland in the World Cup.

Madrid have agreed to pay the £8million release clause in Levante’s contract, which leads to questions over why no Premier League team decided to do the same.